My thoughts on the Phillies season.

An anemic offense, an imploding bullpen and now defensive mishaps do in the Phils as they lose to the Mets, 7-4.

An offense that seems to be mainly in neutral, a bullpen that is leaking losses and now a defense that is making mistakes, help the Phils lose their second straight series, as they lose to the Mets, 7-4.

The Phils jumped off to a quick 2-0 lead as, with one man on, and with two men out, Hunter Pence hits a two-run home run, his seventh home run of the season, knocking in Juan Pierre, who had earlier singled. The Phils added to their lead in the second as, with a runner on third, and with nobody out, Pete Orr hits an RBI single, scoring John Mayberry, Jr., who had reached first base on shortstop Jordany Valdespin’s throwing error, before stopping at second base on the error, then moving to third base on pitcher Miguel Batista’s throwing error on his pickoff attempt, giving the Phils a 3-0 lead. The Phils then made it a 4-0 lead as, with two men on, and with two men out, Shane Victorino hits an RBI double, scoring Orr, who had stolen second base, while sending Jimmy Rollins, who had earlier walked, on to third base. The Mets got a run back in the fourth as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Daniel Murphy hits an RBI single, knocking in Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who had started the inning off with a double, then moved up to third base on David Wright’s fly out to right, making it a 4-1 Phils’ lead, while sending Lucas Duda, who had just walked, up to second base. The Mets cut the Phils’ lead down to 4-2 in the seventh as, with runners on the corners, and with two men out, Nieuwenhuis hits an RBI single, knocking in Valdespin, who had started the inning off with a walk, then went to third base on Andres Torres’ single, while sending Torres, who had just singled, up to second base. The Mets then made it a 4-3 Phils’ lead as Wright hits an RBI single to right, scoring Torres, while sending Nieuwenhuis to third on the late throw to the plate, before the Mets would tied it up a four-all as the Phils blew an attempt to end the inning as Carlos Ruiz tried to cut down Wright as he tried to move up to second base on the throw, as he threw the ball to Orr, but the rundown that followed, involving Orr and Rollins, is messed up by Orr worrying a bit too much about Nieuwenhuis at third, before Orr, as he tried to pick off Nieuwenhuis, committed a throwing error as the ball gets past third baseman Placido Polanco into the left field foul area, allowing Nieuwenhuis to score the tying run, and for Wright to reach third base on the error. The Mets then took a 5-4 lead as Duda hits an RBI single, scoring Wright. The Mets added to their lead in the ninth as, with runners on the corners, and with nobody out, Nieuwenhuis hits a sacrifice fly, scoring pinch hitter Mike Baxter, who had earlier walked, then moved up to third on Torres’ single, giving the Mets a 6-4 lead, while sending Torres up to second base. The Mets then made it a 7-4 lead two batters later as Duda hits an RBI single, knocking in Torres. That would be the final score as Jon Rauch recorded his first save of the year as he pitched a scoreless ninth, getting Pence to end the ballgame by grounding out, 5-3, for the final out.

Joe Blanton received a no-decision as he threw six and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out seven. Chad Qualls committed his third blown save attempt of the season, before taking the lost (1-1, 3.48), as he faced only one batter, giving up an unearned run on a hit. Antonio Bastardo pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit. Jose Contreras pitched two-thirds of an inning, getting out both men that he would face. Michael Schwimer pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs on a hit and a walk, as he struck out a batter. Joe Savery pitched a third of an inning, giving up a hit. Miguel Batista also received a no-decision as he pitched five and one-third innings, giving up four runs, only two of which were earned, on eight hits and two walks, while striking out a batter. Manny Acosta (1-2, 8.59) got the win as he pitched two-thirds of an inning, getting out both men that he would face, as he struck out a batter. Ramon Ramirez received his first hold of the season as he threw one and two-thirds scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out two. Tim Brydak received his seventh hold of the year as he got out the only man that he would face. Jon Rauch received his first save of the season as he threw a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit.

The Phils had ten hits in the game, with Juan Pierre (Singles), John Mayberry, Jr. (Singles) and Pete Orr (Single, Double, RBI) all leading the team with two hits apiece. Shane Victorino (Double, RBI), Hunter Pence (Home Run, 2 RBIs), Placido Polanco (Single) and Carlos Ruiz (Double), had the other four Phils’ hits, as the offense was once more (this is starting to sound like a BROKEN RECORD) unable to get the big hit that would’ve help put the game away before the Mets’ four-run rally in the seventh. The Phils also had three walks and two stolen bases (Pierre (5), Orr (1)) in the ballgame.

The Phils (14-17, 5th) will conclude their series with the Mets (17-13, 3rd) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park, and will begin at 7:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound Cliff Lee ( 0-1, 1.96), who is coming back from an injury in early April. In his last start, a no-decision against the Giants on April 18, he went ten scoreless innings, giving up seven scattered hits, as he struck out eight, in the Phils’ 1-0 extra-innings lost. He will be trying to stop the Phils’ present losing streak, while trying to capture his first victory of the season. The Mets will counter with Dillon Gee (2-2, 4.50), who is coming off a no-decision against the D-backs on May 4, as he went six innings, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out six, in the Mets’ 5-4 lost. He will be trying to lead the Mets to a series sweep. The Phils will be out to keep from being swept, as they try to get out of their present rut.

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